Habib launches defamation proceedings

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Former Guantanamo detainee Mamdouh Habib has filed defamation
proceedings in the NSW Supreme Court against The Australian
newspaper and The Daily Telegraph.

His lawyer Stephen Hopper said the claims related to several
articles about his client, including a cartoon published in The
Daily Telegraph in April 2002 titled "The amazing journey of a
suburban terrorist".

"This afternoon I have on behalf of Mamdouh Habib filed
defamation proceedings in the Supreme Court of New South Wales
against Nationwide News in relation to a number of articles
published in The Daily Telegraph and The Australian
newspaper," Mr Hopper said yesterday.

"There were libellous comments in those articles against my
client."

A News Limited spokesman said the company's lawyers had yet to
look at the court papers.

"We can confirm we have received the document but it hasn't been
reviewed by anybody at this stage so it's just not appropriate to
comment," he said.

Mr Hopper said the court action could take as little as eight
months or several years.

"It depends if they want to settle or fight it out," he
said.

"We'll just have to wait and see what happens."

Mr Habib, who reportedly signed a deal to tell his story to the
Nine Network's 60 Minutes program, was held by the United
States as a suspected terrorist at its military base at Guantanamo
Bay, Cuba.

He was released without charge and returned to Australia in
January, more than three years after his arrest.

Prime Minister John Howard has not ruled out charges being laid
against Mr Habib under Australian law.

Mr Habib, who has had his passport revoked, has also threatened
to sue the Federal Government for turning its back on him while he
was being detained by the US.